The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for March 1, 2023
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Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Casper Star Tribune – Crossover voting could soon come to an end in Wyoming as ban bill clears Senate
Wyoming Legislature – HB0103 – Political party affiliation declaration and changes
Wyoming Secretary of State – Wyoming Party Affiliation Statistics
Cowboy State Daily – Committee Kills Ranked Choice Voting For Wyoming
National Conference of State Legislatures – Explainer: State Primary Election Types
Pew Trusts – Don’t Vote for Just One: Ranked Choice Voting Is Gaining Ground
Groups Taking Action:
Civics 307, League of Women Voters WY, ACLU WY
Today’s Script: (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
Today we’re reporting on the Wyoming legislature’s effort to end “cross-over” voting in primary elections, and a recently-killed bill to allow municipalities to use ranked choice voting.
The Casper Star Tribune reports that House Bill 103, which restricts the deadlines for changing party affiliation before a primary, is headed to Governor Mark Gordon. For Wyoming’s 30,000 unaffiliated voters, or voters wishing to switch parties, the deadline closes the day after the candidates must file, meaning most voters won’t even know what candidates are running. Current rules allow changing affiliation on or before election day.
Although this isn’t the first attempt to restrict cross-over voting in Wyoming, a 2022 effort by Democrats to vote in the Republican primary to support Rep. Liz Cheney in the midterms may have motivated passage. The Democrat’s attempt didn’t come close, with Cheney garnering only 30% of the vote.
In January, a House committee killed HB 49, a bill allowing ranked choice voting for Wyoming municipalities. Proponents touted successes in Alaska and Maine, but skeptics said RCV was too complicated. Where it’s implemented, RCV has proven to engage more voters and make primary races more congenial. Eighty percent of voters find it easy to use.
There’s no word on whether the Governor will sign the change of affiliation bill.
Links to articles and an explainer on types of primary elections can be found at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.
For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.